• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

ZigZagonEarth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

  • FRANCE
    • CORSICA
    • NORMANDY
    • PARIS
  • EUROPE
    • ANDALUCIA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • CRETE
    • ICELAND
    • ICELAND WINTER
    • MADEIRA
    • MALLORCA
    • PORTUGAL
    • SANTORINI
    • SCOTLAND
    • SLOVENIA
  • REST OF WORLD
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • OMAN
  • TIPS
  • EBOOKS
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT

Waipapa Point lighthouse (New Zealand) – Tips + Photos

Last updated on December 20, 2019 by Claire / this article contains affiliate links (Info)

Located in the South Catlins region, the Waipapa Point lighthouse New Zealand, is a peaceful and charming area to enjoy a short walk: beaches, sea lions and a lighthouse recognizable by its red door. Below is my guide to help you plan your visit.

Lighthouse Waipapa point New Zealand Travel
Quick Navigation
Why visit Waipapa point in the Catlins
​Planning Tips - Waipapa Point New Zealand​
Road to Waipapa Point carpark
Walking around the lighthouse
The Waipapa Point lighthouse 
Waipapa point Beaches & Sea lions
S.S. Tararua Wreck
Ruapuke island in the distance
Slope point

Navigate back to the complete New Zealand Travel Guide

Share0
Tweet0
Pin0

This article may contain affiliate Links (info on the Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.


Why visit Waipapa point in the Catlins

Waipapa point is not the most impressive headland in New Zealand. But it is one of the most charming:

  • a delicate white lighthouse with a red door
  • a white sand beach on one side
  • an orange sand / pebble beach on the other
  • the opportunity to see sea lions laying around

It is a great place to enjoy the fresh air and the peaceful vibe of the place.

Why visit Waipapa point in the Catlins

Note - do not mix up! There is a Waipapa town in North Island.

More photos after the planning tips.


​Planning Tips - Waipapa Point New Zealand​

How to get to Waipapa Point - location

  • South Island, South East Coast
  • In the Catlins region - see H15 on the map below
  • Invercargill to Waipapa point = 50min drive
  • Dunedin to Waipapa point = 3h drive
Things to do in the Catlins New Zealand map Cathedral caves

The Catlins Map - Waipapa point location

Maps and GPS coordinates are included in my eBooks, to help you plan an unforgettable road trip:

Be overwhelm by the beauty, not the planning!

New Zealand road trip eBook Cover S
  • 12 easy-to-plan Maps
  • 200 scenic locations in NZ 
  • Tips to plan + make the most of your time
  • 285+ large photos to decide where to go
  • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks

Learn more

Skip to main contentSkip to toolbar About WordPress ZigZag On Earth 76 Plugin Updates, 1 Theme Update 3939 comments awaiting moderation New SEO Howdy, Claire, the Travel Planning Geek Log Out Help Genesis 2.9.1 is available. Check out what's new or update now. Media Library Add New List View Grid ViewFilter by typeFilter by dateBulk SelectSearch Media Search media items... Thank you for creating with WordPress. Version 5.1.1 Close media panel Edit previous media itemEdit next media item Attachment Details Edit Image File name: NZ-South-island-eBook-Cover-S.jpg File type: image/jpeg Uploaded on: April 15, 2019 File size: 77 KB Dimensions: 300 by 225 pixels URL http://www.zigzagonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/NZ-South-island-eBook-Cover-S.jpg Title NZ South island eBook Cover S Caption Alt Text Description Uploaded ByClaire, the Travel Planning Geek Smush 2 images reduced by 6.1 KB ( 22.2% ) Image Size: 77.3 KB View Stats View attachment page | Edit more details | Delete Permanently
  • 6 easy-to-plan Maps
  • 110+ scenic locations in NZ South Island
  • Tips to plan + make the most of your time
  • 190+ large photos to decide where to go
  • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks

Learn more

Visiting Waipapa Point

  • The road is now fully sealed
  • Easy drive to a large carpark
  • Toilets at the carpark
  • Easy to walk around and get down to the beaches
  • The lighthouse cannot be visited
  • Low tide would be a better time to visit to see the wreck and for more chances to see Sea Lions

Planning to rent a car in New Zealand? Check out the local company Snap Rentals

 I selected it myself and paid my rental in full. 

  • They were very nice and responsive, they pick you up and drop you off at the airport
  • The car I rented was in perfect condition
  •  In addition, they have all-inclusive insurance packages with AAA roadside assistance, which means I didn't have to worry (I think it's worth the price)

Check out the cars and prices

Where to stay

  • The closest village is Fortrose - not many accommodation options in the area
  • Otherwise head to the the town of Invercargill - Check out the best rated accommodations

Road to Waipapa Point carpark

The carpark is 4km away from the main road through the Catlins.
It was funny because the sign was still showing gravel road when I visited.

Road to Waipapa Point carpark sign

But I found a beautiful sealed road all the way!

Road to Waipapa Point carpark

And a large carpark with facilities. So easy to access!

Waipapa Point carpark

Waipapa Point carpark


Walking around the lighthouse

From the carpark, you can walk to a lighthouse or walk towards the lighthouse.
There is grass and sand and water... a really peaceful place.

Waipapa Point Catlins Walk 1

In the distance the lighthouse is so white it stands out.
It is not a tall one, but it is one of the prettiest. I will tell you more about its construction in the next section.

Waipapa Point Catlins Walk 2

You can see the Catlins' coast to the North, towards Slope point.

Waipapa Point Catlins Walk 3

And as you walk around the lighthouse on the headland, you will be surprise to find an orange beach on the other side, towards the South.

Waipapa Point Catlins Walk 4

The Waipapa Point lighthouse 

This is the Waipapa Point lighthouse, "a work of art" according to the sign:

The Waipapa Point lighthouse New Zealand 1

Accomoding to the information board:

  • It was built after the wreck of the steamship Tararua (see further below)
  • It is 13,4m (44ft) tall
  • It is clad in a double skin of wood from Kauri and Totara trees
  • Built in the 19th century, wood was a cheap option to build lighthouse that could endure the difficult coastal conditions
  • First lit on 1 January 1884
  • Along with Kaipara North Head, it was the latest timber tower built in New Zealand
  • The lantern room is made of Bronze and was manufactured in Scotland and assembled in place
  • It has been beautifully restored

I love that the information board also includes the drawing of the lighthouse:

The Waipapa Point lighthouse New Zealand drawing
The Waipapa Point lighthouse New Zealand 2

Waipapa point Beaches & Sea lions

The lighthouse is surrounded by beaches.
This is a place where Sea lions like to rest.
Make sure you keep your distance and let them be!

Waipapa point sea lions

The beaches were beautiful but I did not spot any sea lions, sadly!

This is the beach on the North side:

Waipapa point beach 1
Waipapa point beach 2

And this is the beach on the South side. Very strange how orange it is compared to the other side!

Waipapa point beach 3
Waipapa point beach 4

S.S. Tararua Wreck

At low tide you can also spot part of the SS Tararua Wreck. (I have no photos as my schedule put me there at high tide...).

In 1881, the steamship was traveling to Melbourne via Bluff with 151 souls on board. It struck the reef and sank with a loss of 131 lives.

S.S. Tararua Wreck

From there, you can complete a 15min return walk to the Tararua Acre Cemetery where some of the people who died on the boat were buried.


Ruapuke island in the distance

On a clear day, you may see the silhouette of the 16km2 Ruapuke Island in the distance. Its name means 2 hills:

Ruapuke island in the distance

Slope point

Another headland to visit nearby is Slope Point. Accessible via Gravel Road.
It is famous only to be the most Southern point of mainland New Zealand (and not Bluff like so many people seems to think).

However there is not much to see compared to Waipapa. Just farmland.


Want to see more of NEW ZEALAND?

PREVIOUS: 

Nugget Point Lighthouse, New Zealand

NEXT: 

Things to do around Lake Pukaki New Zealand

Tourism New Zealand Travel Guide

Feeling relaxed just looking at the pictures?

Share0
Tweet0
Pin0

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Waipapa Point lighthouse (New Zealand) – Tips + Photos
Read More 
Nugget point Lighthouse (Catlins NZ) – walk +tips + photos
Read More 
Haast Blue Pools Wanaka (New Zealand) – Tips + photos
Read More 
Elephant Rocks (Oamaru, New Zealand): Tips, Map, Photos
Read More 
Lighthouse Waipapa point New Zealand Pin2

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

CONTACT ME

Search

Follow ZigZag on Facebook

Follow ZigZag on Pinterest

Website in French: ZigZagvoyages.fr

Website in German: ZigZagreisen.de

Website in Spanish: ZigZagviajes.com

And discover the French regions:

Normandielovers.fr

LoireLovers.fr

CorsicaLovers.fr

 

Privacy / Terms of Use / Disclosure Policies / Refund policy

Become an affiliate for the ZigZag road trip guides

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ZigZagOnEarth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and Amazon.ca

Copyright © 2023 ZigZag On Earth · Log in